Le Pen's conviction is a wake-up call — it's not justice

The recent conviction of Le Pen’s party, Rassemblement National , is not just about applying the law — it is a clear sign of how European elites are instrumentalizing the courts to thwart anti-establishment candidates. Justice should be impartial, not political. If France is serious about democracy, it needs to reform its legal system to ensure that opposition voices — no matter how controversial — are not silenced by legal means.

On March 31, a French court ruled that the Rassemblement National had misused European Parliament funds to pay party officials who were presented as parliamentary assistants. The result: a €250,000 fine for the party and suspended prison sentences for several leaders. For many, this was celebrated as a moral victory — proof that populists are not above the law.

But let's be honest: when the legal system only seems to show its teeth at certain politicians — precisely those the system fears most — we have a problem.

Political corruption in France is nothing new. From Sarkozy to Fillon , centrist and conservative politicians have faced investigations and convictions. But the narrative is different. In their case, it is a question of "personal errors" and "ethical lapses". With Le Pen, everything is portrayed as an existential threat to democracy.

And that’s where the real problem lies. This isn’t about holding all politicians accountable — it’s about eliminating those who challenge the system. Le Pen may be controversial, but she represents millions of French people who feel ignored by Brussels, Paris and the elites who alternate in power with a media-friendly smile and rehearsed speeches.

And the pattern is being repeated across Europe. In Germany, the AfD party is under constant surveillance . In Spain, Vox faces legal challenges that coincide, oddly enough, with election periods. In Italy, Matteo Salvini was taken to court for “kidnapping” migrants — and the case quietly disappeared. Coincidence? Hard to believe.

This is not justice — it is the instrumentalization of the law : the strategic use of justice to eliminate political rivals. And it is profoundly undemocratic.

Of course, if Le Pen’s party broke the law, it should face consequences. But accountability only has value if it is applied equally. When the law is used selectively, it becomes a tool of power — and democracy starts to look like a rigged game.

So what to do?

France should follow the example of countries like Denmark and the Netherlands, where legal proceedings involving politicians are overseen by independent legal councils, shielded from any government influence. Unlike France, where the most powerful prosecutors report to the Ministry of Justice — a political office — in these countries there is a real “separation wall” between justice and politics.

It would also be sensible to create an independent ethics and political oversight office, similar to the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service , which operates independently of the government. Such measures would protect the integrity of the justice system and ensure that legal decisions are not dictated by polls, headlines or partisan interests.

This is not radical — it is essential for any healthy democracy.

Marine Le Pen’s conviction may seem like a victory for justice, but it is also a warning sign about how easily justice can be instrumentalized. If we start using the courts to defeat political opponents instead of facing them at the ballot box, then we are not protecting democracy – we are eroding it. France urgently needs to strengthen judicial independence and prevent legal proceedings from becoming weapons for maintaining power. Because justice, if it is truly blind, cannot look at the ballot box before deciding the sentence.